Use of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to treat diseases associated with excess ACE

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of treating neuropsychiatric diseases, neuromuscular diseases, viral infections, neurodegenerative diseases and ricin poisoning using angiotensin II receptor blockers.

1 . A method for treating neuropsychiatric disease comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said neuropsychiatric disease, wherein said neuropsychiatric disease is selected from the group consisting of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, and seizure disorder.  
   
   
       3 . A process for treating neuropsychiatric disease according to  claim 1  wherein said angiotensin receptor blocker is selected from the group consisting of irbesartan, candesartan, losartan, telmisartan, eprosartan and valsartan.  
   
   
       4 . A process for treating neuromuscular disease comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an angiotensin receptor blocker.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said neuromuscular disease is selected from the group consisting of, spinal muscular atrophy syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and administering to said patient an effective amount of angiotensin I receptor blocker.  
   
   
       6 . A method for treatment of viral infections comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an angiotensin receptor blocker.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of the common cold, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, hantavirus, SARS, allergic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, West Nile Virus encephalitis, avian flu and Ebola.  
   
   
       8 . A method for treating ricin poisoning comprising administering to a patient in need an effective amount of an angiotensin receptor blocker.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said ARB is administered immediately after exposure to ricin.  
   
   
       10 . A method of treating autoimmune disease comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an ARB.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, alopecia greata, torticollis, vitilligo, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.  
   
   
       12 . A method for treating neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an ARB.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said neurodegenerative disease is selected from the group consisting of spinal muscular atrophy syndromes (types I and II), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  
   
   
       14 . A method for treating a disease associated with excess angiotensin converting enzyme comprising admininstering an effective amount of an ARB to a patient diagnosed with said disease.  
   
   
       15 . A method for treating a disease associated with excess angiotensin converting enzyme comprising administering an effective amount of an ARB to a patient having symptoms of said disease.